Delivering DisabilityCare for Parramatta
People with disability, their families and carers came together in Parramatta today to celebrate DisabilityCare Australia, the national disability insurance scheme, being rolled out across New South Wales.
The Minister for Disability Reform Jenny Macklin joined the Member for Parramatta Julie Owens at Northcott Disability Services to update local residents on the next steps to make DisabilityCare a reality in Parramatta.
The 2013-14 Federal Budget provided $14.3 billion over seven years to 2018-19 to roll out DisabilityCare Australia nationally, on top of existing Commonwealth disability funding.
Ms Macklin said DisabilityCare launched in the Hunter region on 1 July this year, and will be progressively rolled out across New South Wales by July 2018.
“When Julie and I visited Northcott last year, there was a real sense of excitement about what the future held for people with disability, their families and carers,” Ms Macklin said.
“It’s fantastic to be able to come back and celebrate the fact that DisabilityCare will be a reality for people with disability in Parramatta.”
Ms Macklin said DisabilityCare Australia will benefit more than 3,000 people with disability, their families and carers in Parramatta.
“DisabilityCare will give local people peace of mind that if their child or loved one has a significant and permanent disability, they will get the care and support the need, when they need it.
“By July 2018, DisabilityCare Australia will provide more support to about 150,000 people with disability in New South Wales, and more choice and control over how they receive that support.”
Ms Owens said DisabilityCare would be especially important for local families with children with disability, as the scheme has a strong focus on early intervention support.
“We know early intervention services like physiotherapy, speech therapy and support for learning difficulties are critical in giving children the best possible start in life,” Ms Owens said.
“DisabilityCare will mean children with disability get the right support early in their lives so they can reach their full potential as adults.”
Ms Owens said she would continue to keep local residents up to date with the next steps in rolling out DisabilityCare Australia.
“It’s great to have Jenny back in Parramatta to celebrate this historic announcement with the people who have fought long and hard to make DisabilityCare a reality in our community.
“DisabilityCare has already started in launch sites across the country, and I know we’ll learn some important lessons as we work on the roll out of the scheme across the state.
“I’m really proud to be part of a Labor Government that is building DisabilityCare for local residents.”
Under the agreement reached with the New South Wales Government, in 2018-19 when DisabilityCare is fully rolled out across the state:
o The New South Wales Government will contribute about $3.1 billion to the scheme.
o The Australian Government will contribute about $3.3 billion to the scheme for New South Wales residents. In addition, the Commonwealth will cover the full cost of people who turn 65 and choose to remain in the scheme.
o More than $300 million will be allocated to New South Wales in 2018-19 from the increase in the Medicare Levy, to assist with the cost of the scheme in New South Wales.
For more information and to receive updates on DisabilityCare Australia visit the DisabilityCare Australia website.